Helen David Brancato, IHM is a painter, printmaker and illustrator whose work carries themes of justice, peace and homelessness.
Our Presenters 2020-2021
Click on photos for expanded bios.
Presenter
Sharon Browning
Sharon Browning is currently working on the JUST Listening Project, fostering social and personal change and transformation through just and effective communication.
Spiritual Director & Presenter
Maria DiBello, RSM
Maria DiBello, RSM is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. At Cranaleith, she offers spiritual accompaniment and serves on the staff of the Spiritual Direction Formation program.
Presenter
Marie Michele Donnelly, RSM
Marie Michele Donnelly, RSM is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She has extensive experience offering preached retreats to parishes, school faculties, ministry groups, ecumenical groups and religious communities.
Presenter
Mary Pat Garvin, RSM
Mary Pat Garvin, RSM is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Mary Pat ministered for twenty years with national and international conferences of religious, as well as with over 50 religious congregations throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Presenter
Scott Hutchinson
Scott Hutchinson has been a pastor in the United Church of Christ for 29 years. In addition to the thrill of proclaiming the gospel and the privilege of pastoral care, he loves to teach and learn the ways of forgiveness and peace-building.
Spiritual Director & Presenter
Catherine Maguire, RSM
Cathy Maguire RSM, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, has over 20 years of experience in non-profit management, as well as program development and delivery.
Presenter
Mary Anne Nolan, RSM
Mary Anne Nolan, RSM is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Her most recent ministry has been as Co-Director of Mercy Spiritual Ministries, a mobile ministry of the Sisters of Mercy.
Presenter
Maureen O’Connell, Ph.D.
Maureen H. O’Connell is chair the Department of Religion at LaSalle University where she is also an associate professor of Christian Ethics.
Presenter
Br. Mickey O’Neill McGrath, OSFS
In a nutshell, I paint, write, and tell stories- and then travel all over the place telling the stories behind what I paint and write.
Garden Coordinator/Kitchen Manager/Therapist/Presenter
Leslie Porreca, RSM, LCSW
Leslie Porreca, RSM is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She has been called to minister as a clinical social work therapist, artist, garden-farmer and environmental advocate. She is head of Cranaleith's Contemplative Ecology initiatives.
Program Director & Presenter
Bernadette Rudolph
Bernadette Rudolph is spending her adult life endlessly exploring how God is mixed up in human lives and trying to help others see it as well.
Presenter
Aronda Smith-Benson
Aronda Smith-Benson is an honorably discharged Army veteran, founder and president of the Women Veteran Command Center and owner of Aronda Enterprises LLC, an executive coaching and consulting firm.
Presenter
Wini Wolff, MBA, MA
Wini Wolff is an organizational consultant, group facilitator and personal coach, with an MBA in international economic development and an MA in theology.
Presenter
Ruth Picozzi
Ruth Picozzi has led historic tours of Cranaleith, and has a strong interest in the local roots of the Women's Suffrage Movement.
Presenter
Ellen Murray, RSM
Ellen Murray, RSM‘s area of research is focused on Christian spirituality and medieval women mystics with particular attention to Catherine of Siena.
Presenter
Phyllis Strock
Phyllis Strock is a practitioner of sound healing. Using Tibetan and crystal bowls, chant, and sound, she leads people to inner peace and discovery.
Presenter
Audrey Garrett
Audrey Garrett is an artist who practices meditation. She seeks to explore and encourage our connections to nature and to each other through sound meditation, movement, and visual art.
Presenter
LaVerne King, RSM
LaVerne King, RSM’s teaching and administration career has taken her to schools in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida and Delaware.
Presenter
Kathleen McAlpin, RSM
Kathleen McAlpin, RSM, has served as a spiritual director and retreat director for more than 30 years.
Presenter
Joyce Hadley
Joyce Hadley is a board member of the Bucks County Human Relations Council and is currently an Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (ASBS), the religious order founded by St. Katharine Drexel.
Presenter
Mary Trainer, RSM
Sister Mary Trainer, RSM, is the founding director of Cranaleith Spiritual Center.
Presenter
Suzanne Neisser, RSM
Suzanne Neisser, RSM, began North Philadelphia Spiritual Ministries out of her longstanding commitment to the spiritual growth of women in North Philadelphia.
Presenter
Rev. David Maddox
David O. Maddox II has served as an ordained minister within the Lutheran tradition for fifteen years.
Presenter
Ruth Bolarte, IHM
Ruth Bolarte is a member of the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, PA.
Presenter
Reverend Ada Renée Williams
The Reverend Ada Renée Williams, is the Director of the Office of Anti-Racism and Racial Equity of the Sisters of...
Presenter
Sara Brabec
Sara Brabec is Catholic secondary school educator living and working in Sacramento, California. Born and raised in suburban Chicago, she...
Presenter
Kathleen Sprows Cummings
Kathleen Sprows Commings is a Professor of American Studies and History at the University of Notre Dame...
Presenter
Danny L. Thomas
Danny L. Thomas, Executive Director of The Peace Center, Inc., is professionally trained in conflict management skills.
Presenter
Jackie Newns
Presenter
Boreta Singleton
Presenter
Kathleen Duffy, SSJ
Presenter
Tylia Barnes
Presenter
Anneke Kat
Presenter
Honora Nicholson, RSM
Presenter
Maureen H. McCullough, JD
Presenter
Ella Guimond
Presenter
Fredericka Waugh, MSW
Megan Brown, RSM
Megan Brown, RSM, D. Min., is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She holds a Bachelor’s...